Telephone toll apparatus.



No. 810,491. PATENTED JAN. 23, 1906.

G. A. LONG. TELEPHONE TOLL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.9,1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

PATENTED JAN. 23, 1906.

G. A. LONG. TELEPHONE TOLL APPARATUS,

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9, 1904.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. LONG, OF HARTFORD,

CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE GRAY TELEPHONE PAY STATION COMPANY, OFHARTFORD, CON- NECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONN ECTICUT.

TELEPHONE TOLL APPARATUS.

Patented Jan. 23, 1906.

Application filed January 9, 1904. Serial No. 188,344.

, To all whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. LONG, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Hartford, in the county. of. Hartford and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain -new and useful Improvements inTelephone Toll Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to toll-collecting devices for telephones, and isparticularly adapted for use in connection with what is known as theautomatic system, th at is, a sys'-. tem in which the subscriberselectshis own callby the manipulation of certainmechanism withoutthe-use of a central operator.

The drawings show the devices in connection with such aZtelephoneapparatus, although obviously its 'uses are not confined thereto.

The objects of the invention are to provide a very simple and effectivemechanism using a. coin or other check or toll which by the action ofthe coin and manipulation by the operator will secure the desired call.

A further object is to provide a device'of the class specified whichwhile not interfering with the switch-hook lever and its ordinary useswill prevent use of the. instrument until the proper' token or coin isdeposited.

'A Still further object of the invention is to provide a sectionalcontact-plungeronesection of which may beoperated without moving theother until a proper coin or token connectsthe two.

Figure l is a view in front elevation of a set of telephone instrumentswith a toll-collecting device applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a View of thetoll-box, partially in section, taken I from the rear.

Fig. 3 is across-section view through the toll-box on the lines of thecallbutton and plunger as denoted by X X, Fig. 6. Fig. 4 is a detailsectional view, on enlarged scale, of the call-button and appurtenentparts. 7 Fig.5 isa detail view of the coinejecting mechanism. Fig. 6 isa detail view, on enlarged scale, showing the rrangement of thetransmitter-hook lever, clhng *contacts, and coin-ejecting connections.

In the accompanying drawings the numeral 1 denotes thaface-board of aset of telephone instruments of the automatic type, 2 the call-bells, 3the transmitter, and 4 the callselectingdial. The numeral 5 denotes thereceiver'-hook, and 6 the receiver. These parts being all well known inthe art a detailed description is deemed unnecessary.

Ordinarily in the use-of'such an instrument the Su bscriber firstremoves the receiver from the hook, placing his instrument in connectionwith a central station where all lines converge, by inserting a fingerin the various openings 7 of the call-dial and rotating said dial untilthe proper number has been designated. By bringing the finger each timeto a position of rest against the finger-clip 8 connectidn is made withany desired line. The subscriber is enabled by listening to tell whetheror not the line is clear. If clear, he

pushes a button, which rings the call bells at the other instrument..Roughly, this is the operation of the automatic system which requiresno central. g in- ;adopting a pay-station deviceto this system oftelephony I provide an apparatus wherein the push-button by which thecallbells at the second instrument are rung is operative only throughthe medium of the coin the'instrument. 4

The toll-collecting device herein shown and described, which illustratesone embodiment of my invention, consists of a casing 9, secured to thefront board of the said telephone instrument and provided at or pear itstop with an opening 10, which connects with a coin-channel 12.

A supporting member 23 is cored out, as at 24, to form a recess,and'centrally-arranged with reference to this recess is acontact-plunger .25, having an enlarged head 26. This plunger isnormally pressed outward to the position shown in Fig. 2 by a spring 27,arranged in a recess 28 and abutting at one end against a collar29,'secured or formed on the contact-plunger. All of the several partsare arranged within the casing 9 and secured thereto, although thesupport 23 and the plun ger project rearwardly through the face-board ofthe telephone instrument, with the end 30 of the plunger 25 adjacent toa contact makor token demanded in payment for the use of ing andbreaking device 31.

Arranged in the same axial line with the plunger 25 is a plunger 32,terminating adjacent to the head 26 of the plunger' 25 in a cupshapedmember 33. A spring 34 normally holds this plunger at the outer limit ofits play, and abutton 35 is provided for manipulating the plunger. It isto be noted that a depression of the button 35 under ordinarycircumstances will simply carry the cupshaped member 33 over the head 26without acts as a guide down which the-coin may run and fall into thecoin-box 15.

It will be clearly seen that if the button 35 is pressed while a coin isresting on the coinstop 14 this coin will transmit the motion of theplunger 32 to the plunger 25, pushing it backward against the force ofthe spring 27 until the end 30 operates the contacts 31, it beingunderstood that the head 33 is'made of substantially the same diameteras the size of the coin or token. to be used in payment for box 15.

the use of the instrument. This coin-stop 14, as stated above,. ismounted on a shaft 16, which extends through the front board of thetelephone instrument and has on its inner end a lever 17 This lever,through a rod 18 and bell-crank lever 19, is connected with anadjustable push-rod 20, the upper section 21 of which terminates in ahead 22 underlying the path of movement of the receiver-hook lever 5.Thus the connections between the coinstop 14 and the receiverhook leverare such that the movements of, the latter control the positions of theformer.

. A spring 40 tends to keep the plunger at the upper limit of its play.In the normal position of the parts when the receiver is on the .hookthe coin-stop14 is rocked, so that its tailpiece 36 opens the bottom ofthe coin-channel12, allowing the coin to drop into the coin- When thereceiver is removed from the hook, the spring rocks the coin-stop 14back to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 5 in a position to catch adeposited coin, which will connect the plungers 25 and 32, so that whenthe push-button is pressed the contacts 31 will be closed to sound thecall-bell at the other instrument.

The operation of the device is as follows, 7

assuming the parts to be in normal position when the receiver is on thehook, the coin-sto p being rocked up, so that its tailpiece isdepressed, formingan opening through which I shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

a coin may fall into the money-box 15: The receiver is first removedfrom the hook, releasing the plunger 20 andpermitting the spring.

and it is determined whether or not the line is clear. If clear, a coinis dropped into the slot 10, falling through the channel 12 and comingto rest on the coin-stop-14 between the plunger ends 26 38. The button35 is pressed, moving the plunger 32 inward, and through the medium of acoin forces the plunger 25 back until its end 30 closes the contacts 31,ringing the bells at the other instrument. After the use of theinstrument is finished the receiver is hung on its hook, depressing it,which in turn depresses the plunger 20, which rocks the coin-stop 14 up,the tailpiece 36 being depressed, permitting the coin to drop out intothe coin-box 15. g

In order to avoid any possible clogging of the instrument by theaccidental deposit of two coins, I provide a recess 38 in the extension39, in which the cup-shaped member 33 normally rests. If-two coins aredropped into the channel, the first is positioned on the coin- 'stop 14,connecting the two plungers when 32 is pressed in, the outer walls ofthe member 33 following up the coin cutting off the channel,

and so preventing the second coin from falling into a position to clogthe operation of the parts.

By locating a signal device, such as the bell 41, so that it willbesounded by a falling coin or, if desired, by providing an additionalslot 11 and channel 13 with a gong 42, I am enabled to use this localtoll device for long-distance service. Under these conditions a centraloperator makes the desired connection and is apprised of the payment forthe service by too the sounding of the signal as the coins are dropped.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination with a set of telephoneinstruments including a receiver and a re-'1o5 comprising acoin-channel, a coin-stop pivotall y supported at its lower end forminga coinpocket, independentplungers arranged at'each side of saidcoin-pocket adapted to be con- 11o nected'through a coin deposited onthe coinstop to ring the bells at the called station, and operativeconnections between said coin-stop and said receiver-hook lever forrocking said coin-stop, substantially as described. I

2. In'a toll-collecting device for use with automatic telephones thecombination with the telephone instrument including the switch? hooklever, of a casing having a coin-slot and a coin-channel communicatingtherewith, independent plungers arranged in axial alinement and locatedat the bottom of said coinchannel, a coin-stop closing the lower end ofsaid coin-channel and located between and in operative relation to theopposing ends of the said plungers whereby a coin deposited on the saidcoin-stop will form aconnection between the said plungers, and operativeconnections between said coin-stop and said switch-hook lever,substantially as described.

In a toll-collecting device for use with automatic telephone systems,the combination- With the instrument including a switch-hook lever, of acasing having a coin-slot, and a channel'registering with saidcoin-slot, independent plungers in axial alinement'with their opposingends located at each side of the chan- 2 nel, a pivotally-mountedcoin-stop forming a bottomfor the, channel and arranged in operativerelation to the plunger ends whereby a coin. dropping through thechannel is posi-' tioned on the coin-stop'between the plunger ends, andmeans operated by the switch-hooklever for moving said coin-stop,substantially as described. A

4. A toll-collecting device for use with automatic telephone systemscomprising a casing having a coin-slot and coin-channel, independentplungers in axial alinement with their a pivotally-supported coin-stopforming a. coinpocket at the bottom of said channel, a

opposing ends located at each side of the coinslot, and apivotally-mounted coin-stop adapted in one position to close the bottomof said ,coin-channel and position a coin between the opposing ends ofsaid plungers and in its other position to open the bottom of saidcoin-channel and discharge thecoin,and actuating mechplunger having oneend in operative relation with said contacts and its other end arrangedat one side of said coin-stop,'a second plunger 'in'axial alinement withsaid'first plunger and having one end arranged on the opposite side bfsaid coin-stop, its outer end being provided nel.

with a button, the parts being so arranged that a coin supported on saidcoin-stop forms a connection between said plungers whereby a pressure onthe said button will move both of said plungers lengthwise to close saidcontacts,

and operative connections between said coinstop and said switch-hooklever to rock said com-stop 6. The combination with an automatictelephone instrument including the receiver, the receiverhook lever, andthe normally open contacts for the call-circuit, of a toll-collectingdevice comprising a coin-channel, a coinstop forming a bottom for thechannel, the

to discharge the coin from the chanplungers in axial alinement withtheir opposing ends arranged at either side of said coinstop, theopposite end of one of said'plungers being in operative relation to saidcontacts, operative connections betweensaid coin-stop and thereceiver-hook lever, and a spring to move" said mechanism when thereceiver-hook lever is raised, substantially as described.

telephone instrument including a switch-hook lever, of a casing having acoin-slot and a coinchann'el communicating therewith and havlng adelivery-orifice, a coin-stop adapted to close said delivery-orifice andform a bottom for said '1. In a toll-collecting device for usewithautomatic telephones the combination with theslot, plungers having theiropposing ends arranged in operative position at each side of saidcoin-jstop whereby said plungers are connected for lateral movement, andmeans for 'moving said coin-stop to open said deliveryorifice and e ecta coin.

r GEORGE A. LONG.

Witnesses:

VVM. H. BARKER, I LENA EJBERKOVITGH.

